IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (AAT-3) 


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Sciences 

Corporation 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canddian  Institute  for  Historical  IVIicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographlcally  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checiced  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  et/ou  pellicul6e 


n    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le 


D 


D 


D 


D 


titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  init  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  blaclt)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (I.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 


|^~|    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 


along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 

distortion  le  long  de  la  margr  int6rieure 

Bianit  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajcutAes 
lors  d'une  restauratlon  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm6  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6ti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


tot 


|~~|   Coloured  pages/ 


n 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checlted  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 


14X 


18X 


22X 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restauries  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxet 
Pages  d^coiories,  tachetdes  ou  piquies 


I — I    Pages  damaged/ 

|~~|    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

rwl    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


Th< 
poi 
of  1 
filn 


Ori 
be( 
thfl 
sio 
oth 
fin 
sio 
or  I 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 


Showthrough/ 


|aJ   Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inigaie  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  mat6riel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I — I    Only  edition  available/ 


Th< 
shi 
Tl^ 
wh 

Ma 
difl 
ent 
bej 
rigl 
req 
me 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc.,  ont  M  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  mailleure  image  possible. 


26X 


30X 


7 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  h«r«  has  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


L'axamplaira  filmi  f ut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
gAnirosit*  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Itaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  ^mpras- 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filntad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  k  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  — »>  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  Y  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  *ti  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fiimaga. 

Las  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvertura  an 
papiar  ast  imprimAa  sont  filmis  an  commoner  n 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmts  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darniira  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 

\^f\  das  symbolas  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
darniAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  — »>  signifia  "A  SUIVRE  ".  la 
symbols  V  signifia  "FIN". 


Maps,  platas.  charts,  ate.  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar,  l«»ft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  ^s  many  framas  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  illustrata  the 
mathod: 


Las  cartas,  planchas.  tableaux,  ate.  pauvant  Atra 
filmAs  h  das  taux  da  reduction  diff«rants. 
Lorsqua  la  document  ast  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  en  un  seul  clich*.  il  ast  film*  k  partir 
da  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
iliustrant  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


w-p 


CoUectiorv 


SPEECH 


OF 


MR.  LEONARD  H.  SIMS,  OF  MISSOURI, 


ON  THE 


OREGON  QUESTION. 


Delivered  in  the  House  of  Representatives ,  U.  S.)  January  5, 1846. 


WASHINGTON: 

PRINTED  BY  J.  AND  G.  S.  GIDEON. 
1846. 


i- 


»*i 


M 


The  res( 

w 
f>n  Foreig 

j^^he  treaty  ( 

«ler  considi 

Mr.  SD 

He  oug 

aittention ; 

himself,  n 

j'^Rras  neaif^ 

aithat  those 

might  be  1 

tepresenta 

ijuestion. 

.^Missouri  i 

be  able  tc 

'>^  Mr.  Sp 

^ay ,  tlie 

imented 
4n  this  SI 

ininds,  n 

'  this  impo 

jOn  the  in 

^f  the  tei 

Sountry, 
Sir.  th 

k  an  int 

i[on  is  01 
Wight  was 


I 


^ 


SPEECH. 


l^  The  resolutions  reported  to  the  House  by  the  chairma'n  of  ther  Committee 
i0m  Foreign  Relations,  giving  notice  to  Great  Britain  of  the  termination  of 

j.^lhe  treaty  of  1818,  in  relation  to  the  joint  occupancy  of  Oregon,  being  un- 
der consideration — 

Mr.  SIMS  obtained  the  floor,  and  addressed  the  House  as  follows: 
He  ought  probably,  he  said,  to  apologise  to  the  House  for  claiming  their 
attention;  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  hall  he  saw  a  colleague,  who,  with 
himself,  resided  on  the  western  frontier  of  Missouri,  in  the  region  which 

J  H^as  neai  4  the  Oregon  Territory;  and  it  must  be  conceded  by  gentlemen 
i;4hat  those    'ho  lived  in  that  quarter  took  a  deep  interest  in  this  subject.     It 

^  might  be  recollected,  too,  that  the  people  of  far-famed  Missouri,  and  their 
arepresentatives  here,  had  ever  taken  an  anxious  interest  in  the   Oregon 

/■question.  He  would  be  wanting  in  his  duty,  therefore,  to  the  people  of 
^Missouri  if  he  failed  to  make  some  remarks,  though  he  did  not  profess  to 
l)e  able  to  enlighten  them  on  this  important  subject. 

Mr.  Speaker,  well  may  you,  as  well  as  every  member  on  this  floor — 

liay ,  tlie  Amejican  people — recollect  the  deep  and  ardent  interest  which  the 

lamented  Linx,  formerly  of  the  United  States  Senate,  from  Missouri,  felt 

<dn  this  subject.     He  it  was,  to  a  very  great   extent,  who  prepared  the 

ininds,  not  only  of  the  people  of  Missouri,  but  of  the  whole   Union,  on 

♦this  important  subject,  that  now  prevails,  with  such  unanimity  of  feeling 

4>n  the  immediate  steps  necessary  to  be  taken  for  the  successful  occupation 

^f  the  territory  in  dispute.     He  it  was  who  adhered  to  the  rights  of  his  own 

country,  and  at  the  same  time  had  respect  for  the  rights  of  others. 

J    Sir,  the  first  proposition  which  I  intend  to  consider  I  will  put  in  the  form 

m(  an  interrogatory.     I  ask  this  vast  and  enlightened  nation  whether  Ore- 

Jfon  is  ours  or  not  ?     I  have  heard  no  man  yet  who  dared  to  say  that  our 

%ight  was  not  good  to  the  whole  territory.     Now,  sir,  if  we  have  a  right  to 


i;.uni 


•  •  *  I 


4 


I 


Oregon  up  ♦     he  49th  parallel  of  north  latitude,  we  have  the  right  to  it  ij;  boon  sa 
to  54°  40'.  ^ger. 

I  beg  leave  to  refer  the  House  to  the  act  of  delivery  of  Astoria  from  tljjg  childr 
British  Government  to  that  of  the  United  States,  which  is  in  the  followiigj^jie  |ioin 
language,  to  wit:  \  ^viU  n 

"  In  obedience  to  the  commands  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Rf  ft  be  in  c 
gent,  signified  in  a  despatch  from  the  Right  Honorable  the  Earl  Bathuwriligrants 
addressed  to  the  partners  or  agents  oif  the  Northwest  Company,  bearimlM  I  was 
date  the  27th  of  January,  1818;  and  in  obedience  to  asubL3quent  ordeitio  those 
dated  the  26th  of  July,  from  William  H.  Sheriff,  esq.,  captain  of  his  JVlwIiich  I  c( 
jesty's  ship  Andromache,  we,  the  undersigned,  do,  in  conformity  to  tlreeolution 
first  article  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  restore  to  the  Government  of  the  UnitfVith  a  nat 
States,  through  its  agent,  J.  B.  Prevost,  esq.,  ♦he  settlement  of  Fcany  other 
George,  on  the  Columbia  river.  Given  under  our  hands  in  triplicate,  Weliavi 
Fort  George,  Columbia  river,  this  6th  day  of  October,  1818.  .  upon  it  art 

F.  HICKEY,  poses  of  G 

Captain  of  his  Majesty'' s  ship  Blossom,  such  ques 

J.  KEEFE,  ciplewhic 

Of  the  Northwest  Company:' iton\mx,\\ 

I  will  also  refer  the  House  to  the  acceptance  thereof,  by  the  America^*^"^^ 

commissioner,  which  is  laid  down  in  the  following  language,  viz:  pancy 

-we  shouk 
^'  I  do  hereby  acknowledge  to  have  this  day  received,  in  behalf  of  tl;  i 

Government  of  the  United  States,  the  possession  of  the  settlement  desit .  ^  .i 
nat^d  above,  in  conformity  to  the  first  article  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent.  Give  #.1  ^ 
under  my  hand  in  triplicate,  at  Fort  George,  Columbia  river,  this  6th  (  .  r  .^ 
October,  1818.  J.  B.  PREVOST,  TJ ^  entl 

Agent  for  the  United  States  y     ,      .1     ] 

Shortly  after  the  interchange  of  this  correspondence,  the 'British  flag  wa  ^^  Prcsi 
hauled  down,  and  the  American  ensign  placed  in  its  stead.  ^^te  care 

Sir,  I  ask  the  members  on  this  floor  what  means  would  have  been  more  ijqh  to  rt 
cflfective  in  ihe  surrender  of  the  Oregon  Territory  than  the  above.  occupied 

It  may  be  true  that  the  people  of  Missouri,  whom  I  have  the  honor,  in  ,^,j  badf 
part,  to  represent,  feel  a  more  warm  affection  for  Oregon  than  others  in  thi;  ^gpted,  i 
nation.  I  cannot  myself  help  feeling  for  it  the  warmest  affection.  If  Mr.  P 
therefore,  I  should  say  anything  calculated  to  wound  the  feelings  of  anj  ^^^  ^.o  ai 
who  hear  me,  I  assure  them  that  it  is  not  my  intention.  I  have  witnessed,  .^ynmen 
with  deep  solicitude,  the  tears  of  the  mother  in  parting  V'ith  her  sons  and  j^j  g 
daughters,  when  I  have  seen  thera  take  up  the  travel  for  Oregon,  whicli  -nan  fro 


right  to  It  ijj  ijgpj^  gjjjj  |jy  gentlemen  to  be  a  route   so  impracticable  and  so  full  of 
sfcger.     And  I  have  sympathized  in  tiie  feelings  of  the  aged  father,  when 
ria  from  tl^jg  children  were  departing  for  that  country,"  where  they  desired  to  find  a 
he  followiigrtile  home  on  the  bordere  of  the  Pacific. 

I  will  notice  what  the  gentleman  from  South  Carolina  said,  (Mr.  Riiett,) 
Prince  Rf  ft  be  in  order,  as  to  this  country  being  the  refuge  of  liberty,  and  free  to  all 
arl  Bathur-jflligrants  from  every  nation  who  are  suffering  under  tyranny  and  oppression; 
my,  bearinuld  I  was  surprised  that  fie  was  willing  to  let  Oregon  alone,  and  thus  close 
quent  ordeitto  those  who  may  seek,  under  our  protection,  a  home  in  that  country, 
ti  of  his  Munich  I  conceive  will  be  the  probable  results  if  we  fail  to  adopt  the  pending 
Jrniity  to  tlreeolutions.  He  would  leave  our  eights  in  Oregon  the  subject  of  negotiation 
the  Unit(With  a  nation  wliich  never  yielded  any  thing  in  its  diplomacy  to  us,  or  to 
ent  of  Fcany  other  people . 

triplicate.  We  have ,  here ,  openly  discussed  <•  very  branch  of  this  question ,  and  our  vews 
upon  it  are  known  to  all  the  world.  But  you  can  never  tell  what  are  the  pur- 
I Y,  poses  of  Great  Britain  from  the  debates  in  her  Parliament,  for  the  decision  of 

blossom,  such  questions  does  not  depend  upon  the  small  portion  of  the  popular  prin- 
E,  ciple  which  is  imposed  in  her  system  of  government.     Being  a  resident  of  the 

>mpany.^^  frontier,  where  I  have  cast  my  lot  for  life,  I  feel  very  deeply  the  necessity  of 
e  AmericT^^"^^  notice  to  Great  Britain  of  our  purpose  to  terminate  the  joint  occu- 
12;  pancy  of  Oregon.  The  gentleman  from  South  Carolina  asks  for  reasons  why 

1    if    e  I'W'e  should  do  this,  and  I  will  give  them.     Proposition  after  proposition  have 

,      we  made  to  Great  Britain  for  the  settlement  of  the  question,  and  the  divis- 
mentdesu.         ^    ,  .        ,  ,  ,  ah    1  .      . 

ion  of  the   territory  between  her  and  us.     All  these  she  has  steadily  re- 

,*.    ^       fused,  and,  had  I  been  with  the  President  when  he  offered  the  lastcompro- 
„^  indse  of  the  49lh  parallel,  I  would  have  advised  him  against  it.     But,  sir, 

^  '      ,,  Ahe  gentleman  from  New   York,  (Mr  Kino,)  was  mistaken  when  he  said 
ibat  the  President  had  not  made  that  offer  in  sincerity.     Sir,  I  have  known 
nag  wa  ^^  President  intimately  for  many  years,  during  his  whole  public  and  pri- 
vate career.     I  have  known  his  whole  history,  and  have  marked  his  devo- 
oeen  more  ^^^j^  jq  republican  principles  in  every  station  that  he  has  filled,  and  he  has 
^^'  occupied  no  small  portion  of  his  country's  history.     lie  never  made  an  offer 

honor,  in  .^^  had  faith.  In  making  this  proposition  he  supposed  that  it  would  be  ac- 
icrs  m  thi:  ^^pted,  and  he  intended  to  he  bound  by  it. 

tion.  U  ^j.  Preston  King  enquired  of  the  gentleman  from  Missouri  if  he  refer- 
gs  01  an}  j^jj  jQ  jjj^y  ijjjjjg  vvhich  he  had  said,  when  he  spoke  of  the  faith  of  the  Gov- 
vitnessed,  .«„ment? 

sons  and  j^^.  g^^^g  ^^^^.  j  ^^^^^  ^^  ^j^g  rumor  spoken  of  by  the  honorable  gentle- 
m,  whicl-  ^^^  f^Q^  jy^^,  York. 


6 


If  so,  said  Mr.  King,  I  desire  to  say  that  I  said  nothing  on  the  subject  of  |ican  pe( 
the  faith  of  the  Government.    The  question  of  faith,  good  or  bad,  was  not  1^^^  ^^^^ 
at  all  involved  in  the  ofler  last  made  by  our  Government  to  Great  Britain.    ^P  ^^  ^ 
If  it  had  been  accepted  our  Government  would  have  been  bound  by  it,  and    ?®  ^^ 
the  line  settled  at  49°.     It  was  for  this  rrasori  he  had  said  he  would  not     Anieric. 
have  made  the  offer.     The  offer  was  rejected  by  the  British  Government,     conseqi 
and  we  were  saved  from  all  injury.     He,  (Mr.  King,)  felt  no  sensitiveness   '^^^^^^ ^^ 
on  this  subject  of  the  faith  of  the  Government.     The  honor  of  the  country 
was  in  safe  hands,  in  the  care  of  the  administration .     His  acts,  and  the  votes 
of  those  who  sent  him  here,  were  the  testimonials  of  his  faith  for  the  past, 
as  they  would  be  for  the  future. 

Mr.  Sims  resumed.  It  is  so  common  on  this  floor  for  inexperienced  mem- 
bers to  make  apologi(?s  foi'  their  embarrassments ,  I  will  not  offer  any  for 
mine.  I  hope  gentlemen  will  understand,  what  I  have  heretofore  said, that 
I  do  not  intend  to  make  any  personal  allusions  to  any  gentlemen  here  de- 
signed to  be  offensive .  I  find  so  much  difficulty  in  getting  along  with  all 
the  questions  that  may  be  raised  by  the  North,  or  by  the  South,  and  by 
lawyers,  and  metaphysicians,  and  learned  doctors,  who  abound  here,  that  I 
shall  be  compelled  to  travel  slowly  in  my  remarks.  I  hope,  therefore,  that 
gentlemen  will  keep  cool  and  suffer  me  to  get  through.  I  was  about  to  say, 
when  interrupted  by  the  gentleman,  that  the  fact  of  the  President's  having 
offered  the  49°  as  a  compromise,  is  no  reason  why  he  should  make  it  again, 
or  that  he  should  take  it  if  now  offered  by  the  British  Government. 

Sir,  suppose  that  I  have  a  cargo  of  flour  in  the  port  of  Boston,  a  gentle- 
man n,  .)me  to  buy  it,  I  offer  it  for  six  dollars  per  barrel,  and  he  refuses 
it;  suppose  that  he  goes  out  on  the  wharf  and  finds  that  flour  is  worth  eight 
dollars  per  barrel,  am  I  bound  to  take  the  offer  of  six  dollars  per  barrel  on 
his  return  and  demanding  it,  or  would  it  be  good  sense  to  make  a  similar 
proposition,  thereby  losing  two  dollars  on  each  barrel?  This  is  precisely 
an  analogous  case. 

A  great  deal  has  been  said  here  about  war.  I  wish  to  be  distinctly  un- 
derstood what  banner  I  fight  under — it  is  for  Oregon,  all  or  none,  now  or 
never. 

Not  only  I,  but  the  people  of  Missouri,  whom  I  in  part  represent,  will 
stand  up  to  this  motto.  Around  it  we  will  rally,  and  for  it  we  will  fight, 
till  the  British  lion  shall  trail  in  the  dust.  The  lion  has  cowered  before  us 
before;  and  I  have  no  fears,  in  the  event  of  our  being  united,  he  will  do 
so  again,    I  believe  that  there  is  unity  and  strength  enough  in  the  Ameri- 


subject  of  |ican  people  to  enforce  their  rights  and  repel  aggressions.  Talk  of  whipping 
d,  was  not  f  this  nation  !  Sir,  it  is  folly — the  height  of  folly.  I  have  not  been  brought 
at  Britain,  "up  in  the  tented  field,  nor  accustomed  to  make  war  an  exercise,  and  do  not 
by  it,  and  f^o  much  thirst  for  marshal  renown  as  to  desire  to  witness  such  a  war  as 
would  not  America  and  Britain  would  make.  Sighing  and  moaning  would  be  its 
vernment  consequences;  deep  affliction  would  locate  itself  in  the  cities,  towns,  and 
nsitiveness  t  rural  scenes  of  our  widespread  country.  Notwithstanding  all  this,  I  can- 
e  country  l^i^t  fear  the  war,  nor  doubt  its  success  on  our  part,  should  we  be  forced  to- 
meet  it. 

The  gentleman  from  Ohio,  (Mr.  Giddings,)  had  brought  several  other 
'  topics  into  view;  and  1  believe  that  he  would  suffer  much  if  he  did  not  say 
something  about  abolition  and  slavery.  As  he  is  now  delivered  of  his  tiring 
load,  I  hope  that  he  will  not  again  impose  upon  this  House  similar  remarks. 
I  do  not  wish  to  say  anything  against  the  South.  No,  God  forbid;  for  she 
has  too  often  displayed  her  patriotism  on  the  battle-field,  and  her  devotion 
to  democratic  principles.  I  do  not,  sir,  desire  to  witness  the  shock  of  war, 
its  pomp  and  parade,  and  its  bloody  fields;  nor  do  I  eve:  wish  to  hear  the 
shouts  of  those  triumphs  which  I  feel  that  we  should  achieve  in  this  strug- 
gle; but  I  do  hope  that  we  shall  never  submit  to  British  dictation. 

When  I  was  a  boy,  sir,  a  small  boy,  in  1815,  I  was  with  my  father  at 
church,  where  he'  was  offering  his  prayers  to  the  Almighty;  and  it 
was  then  that  the  news  of  the  victory  of  New  Orleans  reached  the 
spot.  I  never  felt  so  happy  as  at  that  moment.  At  that  moment 
my  love  of  country  commenced,  and  from  that  hour  it  has  increased 
more  and  more  every  year;  and  I  shall  be  ever  ready  to  peril  every- 
thing in  my  power  for  the  good  of  my  country.  Sir,  I  do  not  fear,  if 
the  resolutions  now  being  debated  are  adopted,  that  war  will  be  the  result. 
Will  Great  Britain  make  war  upon  us  for  taking  and  using  that  which  is 
our  own  ?  Will  she  do  this,  when  the  treaty  itself  provides  that  either 
Government  may  terminate  the  joint  occupancy  by  giving  notice?  If  she 
desires  to  have  a  war,  let  her  see  to  it.  Sir,  I  am  for  the  whole  of  Ore- 
gon, and  for  nothing  else  but  the  whole.  Should  it  require  of  us,  in  self- 
defence,  to  make  bloody  the  decks  of  our  ships,  crimson  our  rivers  from 
their  mountain  sources  to  the  ocean,  and  cover  our  land  with  the  slain  in 
batde,  we  are  prepared  for  the  sacrifice. 

I  cannot  hold  tlie  idea  that  some  gentlemen  do,  that  Britain  could  defeat 
us;  the  thing  is  impossible.  Why  did  she  not  conquer  us  in  former  strug- 
gles? Because  we  were  struggling  for  liberty  and  the  rights  of  man. 
Our  efforts  were  aided  by  the  Ruler  of  the  destiny  of  nations,  and  the 


Id  the  votes 
Y  the  past, 

ced  mem- 
er  any  for 
said,  that 
here  de- 
g  with  all 
and  by 
re,  that  I 
fore,  that 
Juttosay, 
■'s  having 
'it  again, 

• 

a  gentle- 
e  refuses 
rth  eight 
>arrel  on 
I  similar 
)recisely- 

ctly  un- 
now  or 

It,  will      V 
t  %ht, 
fore  us 
vill  do 
Imeri- 


8 


strong  arms  of  the  lovers  of  liberty — ay,  that  very  liberty  which  dreads  not3|kapooi 
comparison  with  glory  !  Ming  pi 

Why  should  we  give  up  Oregon,  and  cut  ofl*  the  West  from  the  trade ifi|er  ab 
with  China,  and  give  it  all  to  England?    If  we  show  that  we  are  afraid  of   ^e  tal 
Great  Britain,  the  loss  of  the  country  will  be  certain.  i«fcniit<^o 

What  is  peace  without  honor?     If  we  once  give  way  on  one  point,  we  ilj|l  ^^^^^ 

shall  be  soon  called  on  to  yield  another,  and  so  on,  till  we  have  nothing  to  lljprs*^  ^^r 

lose.     The  situation  of  things  on  the  northeastern  boundary  I  do  not  wish  nlr  gfas 

to  see  in  the  West.     Those  neighbors  on  one  side  of  the  line,  see  on  those 

on  the  other  bitter  fees.     Talk  about  settling  the  country,   extending  our 

laws  with  the  joint  occupancy  in  existence,  is  a  great  absurdity.     To  see  Nwiies  of 

two  judicial  tribunals  on  the  same  square   mile — one  under  the  British  Jft>^^^^^ 

crown ,  the  other  under  that  of  the  United  States — American  militia  and  Honaun 

British  soldiers  mustering  in  the  same  field  in  the  time  of  peace — would  be  St.  rleU 

the  result  of  the  policy  urged  by  gentlemen  opposing  the  notice.    Perpetual   Oibralta 

hostility  must  be  expected  v/henever  two  governments  attempt  or  desire    Lo^^^"^ 

equal  jurisdiction  and  rights,  held  and  retained  on  their  respective  parts.    Upper 

It  would  be  unnatural  to  expect  peace  and  harmony  to  prevail  under  such     iireiiac  t 

Domini 

St.  Yin 

Baliami 

Tobago 

Ceylon 

Trinidi 

Malta 

Gozza 

Pema 
Esseqi 
Berbi( 

fit.  L 

Cape 

Heli§ 

Maui 

lo 

^  Corf 

Cep 

Zar 

San 

Itac 


existing  circumstances. 


Mr.  Speaker,  I  should  have  much  at  risk  in  the  event  of  war — not  in 
wealth,^ but  I  have  a  wife  and  children,  and  I  love  them  with  all  the 
heart  and  soul  that  I  possess.     No  one  can  love  his  family  more  than  I  do 
mine,  unless  his  stronger  intellect  may  give  him  more  strength  of  affection; 
and  that  family  would  be  exposed  to  the  merciless  savages,  who  will,  as 
ever,  become  the  allies  of  Great  Britain  in  every  war  with  us.     They  will 
be  exposed  to  the  horrors  of  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife  of  the  cruel 
and  unrelenting  savage.     But,  sir,  in  the  face  of  this  danger,  tlie  people  of 
the  frontiers,  with  all  the  West,  will  daringly  press,  with  the  riiie  in  one 
hand  and  the  implements  of  husbandry  in  the  other,  to  the  valley  of  the 
Columbia.     With  the  former  they  will  mark  their  enemies;  with  the  latter 
subdue  the  forest,  and  erect  habitations  for  themselves  and  families.     It  is 
not  impossible  that  I  may  be  amongst  those  who  will  be  seen  in  this  on- 
ward and  western  march .    I  am  far  west  from  the  home  of  my  birth .     In 
early  hfe,  ere  my  mind  reasoned,  I  was  conveyed,  in  the  lap  of  my  mother, 
across  the  mountains ,  and  was  located ,  without  the  volition  of  my  owu 
will,  on  the  waters  of  Cumberland,  Middle  Tennesoee.     I  have  since  that 
time,  by  choice,  found  my  present  home  on  the  Ozark  Heights,  in  South- 
western Missouri,  where  the  signs  of  savage  life  can  yet  be  traced,  but 
vhere  the  inroads  of  civilization  are  obliterating  the  footsteps  of  the  warlike 


I  dreads  notJ|^kapoos.     The  Indian  and  the  white  man  aUko  love  the  tombs  and  the 

dMing  place  of  their  sires ;  but  destiny  moves  them  botti ;  yet  their  spirits 

the  trade  ifl^er  about  tlie  homes  of  their  birih. 

re  afraid  of   jpTe  talk  about  aggression  upon  British  rights.     I' hold  ia  my  hand,  and 

iiAmit  to  the  honorable  members  upon  this  floor,  a  compiled  catalogue  of 

pomt,  we  Jm  foreign  rapacities  of  Great  Britain,  which  sliows,  conclusively,  her 

nothing  to  :fa|rst  for  power,  and  wantonness  in  her  seizures?  of  the  rights  of  others,  and 

lo  not  wish  air  grasping  desi-e  to  lord  it  over  land  and  sea.     But  to  the  catalogue: 

■  e  on  those 

.jjjjjj  The  foreign  rapacities  of  Great  Britai?i. 


•     To  see 

Names  of  Provinces. 

, 

• 
From  w}iom  taken. 

Date. 

Square  miles. 

lie  British  Jamaica     - 

- 

-     Spain 

- 

1655 

6,250 

lilitia  and 

Honduras 

- 

-     Spain 

- 

1670 

3,600 

-would  be 

St.  Helena 

"  • 

-     Dutch 

- 

1673 

46 

Perpetual 

Gibraltar   - 

- 

-     Spain 

- 

1704 

2 

t  or  desire 

Lower  Canada 

- 

-     Fiance 

- 

1759 

^     250,000 

live  parts. 

Upper  Canada 

- 

-     France 

- 

1760 

-     100,000 

»der  such 

Grenada    - 

- 

-     France 

- 

1762 

Dominica 

- 

-     France 

- 

1763     ■ 

r — not  in 

St.  Vincent 

- 

-     France 

- 

1763 

• 

h  all  the 

Bahamas  - 

- 

-     France  and 

Spain, 

1783 

5,424 

than  I  do 

Tqbag>,'     - 

- 

-     France 

- 

1793 

88 

affection  ; 

Ceylon  (in  part) 

- 

-     Dutch 

- 

1796 

-       12,500 

will,  as 

Trinidad  - 

- 

-     France  and 

Spain, 

1797 

2,000 

'hey  will 

Malta 

- 

-     Knights  of  St.  John, 

1800 

98 

the  cruel 

Gozza 

- 

Do. 

1800 

8 

People  of 

Demarara 

- 

-     Dutch 

. 

1803  > 

e  in  one 
y  of  the 
le  latter 
.     It  is 
his  on- 
th.     In 
nother. 

Ec^sequibo 
Berbice     - 

St.  Lucia  - 

Cape  of  Good  Hope 

-  Dutch 

-  Dutch 

-  Dutch 

-  Dutch 

- 

1803} 
1803  S 

1803 

1806 

-  76,000 

3,000 

-  130,000 

Heligoland 

- 

-     Denmark  : 

- 

1807 

6 

Mauritius  - 

- 

-    France 

- 

1810 

756 

Ionian  Islands 
'  Corfu 

,  viz  : 

-     France 

1814 

22T 

»y  ovm 
ce  that 
South- 
ed, but 

Cephalonia 

- 

-    France 

- 

1814 

348 

Zante 

- 

-     France 

- 

1814 

166 

Santa  Maura 
Itaca 

t 

-  France 

-  France 

- 

1814 

-1814 

180 
44 

warlike 


10 


C«eig^ 

•                                               B 

France      - 

.    1814 

Paxo 

«•                                                • 

• 

France 

.    1814 

Ceylon  (in  part) 

- 

Native  king 

.     1815 

Chusan     - 

•       • 

China 

-     1844 

.  British  India, 

viz  : 

- 

m                                 m 

Twenty-four  Pergimnahs  - 

Native  princes 

.    1757 

MUaalipatAn 

- 

Do. 

-     1759 

Burdwan  - 

•i                                  m 

Do. 

-     1760 

Manapoor 

•■                                  •• 

Do. 

.    1760 

Chittagong 

- 

Do. 

-    1760 

Beag&l 

- 

Do. 

-     1765 

Bahar 

- 

Do. 

-    1765 

Orissa 

- 

Do. 

-     1765 

Chingleput 

- 

Do. 

-    1765» 

Northern  Cicars 

" 

Do. 

-    1766 

Geraindary  of  Benares 

Do. 

•  -    1775 

Island  of  Salsette  - 

Do. 

-     1776 

Nagore 

- 

Do. 

-    1778 

Guntoor  Circars 

- 

Do. 

-     1778 

Puio  Penang 

- 

Do. 

-    1786 

Malabar    - 

- 

Do. 

-    1792 

Dindigul   - 

- 

Do.     . 

-    1792 

Salem 

- 

Do. 

-    1792 

Barramahl 

- 

Do. 

-    1792 

Corinbatore 

- 

Do. 

.    1799 

Canara     - 

*•                                  m 

Do. 

-    1799 

Wynaad    - 

m                              m 

Do. 

-    1799 

Tanjore    - 

' 

Do. 

-    1799 

Dist's  of  Tippoo 

Saib 

Do. 

-    1800 

Oiarnatic    - 

- 

Do. 

-    1801 

Goruckpore 

- 

Do. 

-    1801 

Lower  Doab 

- 

Do. 

-    1801 

Bareily 

- 

Do. 

-    1801 

Bundlecund  (in 

part) 

Do. 

.    1802 

Cutach 

. 

Do. 

.    1803 

Balasore    - 

- 

Do. 

.    1803 

Upper  Doab 

- 

Do. 

-    1803 

Delhi  territory 

- 

Do. 

-     1803 

GujVat  (in  part) 

M                              m 

Do. 

^     1805 

i 

26  '^augi 
12,OG0  parw^ 
8O0  l^hine 
684/)20  -iDandJ 
;^me| 
Jpoond 
iConc| 
Mahrl 

I 

On  tlj 

Concl 

Beju 

Singi 

Mala 

Assa 
Ara( 
'*  Tav 
Ye 
Coo 
S 
Beri 
IS 


-fr  ' 


f 

.uniaon 
Sfii^augurandHuttah 

12,OG0  Darwar     -  -  - 

8O0   j^.hmedabad 
584/)20  ^JCandish    - 

iALJmere     -  -  " 

•oonah     -  -  " 

Coiican     -    ^        - 
Mahratta  country,  (in part) 
On  the  Nerbudda  - 
Concan  (in  part),  - 
Bejupoor  (in  part) 
Singapore 
Malacca    -         .    - 
Assam 
Aracan 
Tavoy 
Ye 
Coorg 


11 

Native  Princes 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 


1815 
1817 
1817 
1817 

1818 
1818 
1818 
1818 
1818 
1818 
1820 
1822 
1824 
1825 
1826 
1826 
1826 
.  1826 
.  1834 


433,000 


I 


s 


Do. 
States  paving  black  mail  in  India,  viz: 
B'ron/e,  Mysore,  Travancore,  Cochin,  Sattarah>  Dom.mo„s  of  he 
Nizam,  Dominions  of  the  Rajpoot  chief,  Domimons  of  the  Bundlecund 

chief.  ^  ^ 

'    Settlements  of  Great  Britain. 

New  Brunswick     -  -  "  "  ,^^^^ 

^T        a    *•  -  -  15107 

Nova  Scotia  -  -^^^q  > 

Cape  Breton  -     .  -  "  "  i^ia 

Prince  Edward's  Island  -  -  "  ^ 

Newfoundland       -  -  "  " 

Bavbadoes  -  .  .  1609 

f'Z  '  '  .  1623 

^'■T  ■     ■     "     :     -     1631 

I  :  '  '  .  ■  1632 

MoDtserrat  -  - 

,  -  -  1632 

Anuqua      -  - 

Toftola      -  "  •  j^g7 

Sierra  Leone  -  -  *  *  1787-1 

New  South  Wales  -  -  "  1803  > 

Van  Dieman's  Land  -  -  "  18'^9l 

Western  Australia  -  -  "  '^    -^ 

New  Holland,  parts  unsettled  •  " 


Square  miles 

27,704 

18,742 

2,131 
35,913 
164 
20 
67 
20 
46 
108 
42 
60 

60,000 

■ 

3,000,000 


12 


RECAPITULATION. 

Square  miles. 

British  acquisition  by  seizures  from  Other  nations  -     1,620,694 

British  acquisition  by  peaceful  settlements  -  -        135,007 

British  acquisition  by  claim  without  settlement     -  -    3,000,000 

Sir,  you  will  see  from  this  catalogue  that  Great  Britain  has  acquired,  by 
force,  one  million  six  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  six  hundred  and  nine- 
ty-four square  miles j  by  peaceful  settlement,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
thousand  and  seven  square  miles;  by  claim,  without  settlement,  three  mii- 
lions  of  square  miles.  What  nation  has  she  not  plundered  of  her  territory? 
Ask  France  how  she  (England)  got  the  Canadas?  France  will  answer, by 
conquest  and  blood.  Ask  Spain  and  India,  nay,  the  world,  how  she  has 
acquired  possessions  belonging  to  them.  A^d  shall  the  American  people  or 
the  American  Congress  invite  Great  Britain  to  come  here  and  take  from 
•our  children  their  inheritance? 

It  has  been  said  that  the  route  to  Oregon  was  impracticable;  that  it  is 
beset  with  dangerous  enemies,  and  that  we  could  not  send  troops  to  Oregon, 
nor  provisions  to  feed  them.  Now,  sir,  we  of  Missouri  can  fit  out  ten  thou- 
sand wagon  loads  of  provisions  for  Oregon  at  any  time,  and  ten  thousand 
wagon  boys  to  drive  them,  who,  with  their  wagon  whips,  can  beat  and 
.drive  off  all  the  British  and  Indians  that  they  find  in  their  way. 

Some  say  that  the  ships  of  England  will  bring  soldiers  and  provisions, 
and  block  up  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  quarter  her  troops  upon  the 
territory,  and  starve  us  out  of  the  country.  Both  parlies  would  have  to  par- 
ticipate in  this;  and,  take  my  word  for  it.  Her  Majesty's  troops  would 
liave  their  share  of  hunger,  from  tlie  fact,  that  her  hirelirg  muskets  could 
not  compete  with  the  deadly  aim  of  the  Western  rifleman  in  felling  game, 
so  plentiful  in  that  portion  of  our  Western  domain. 

If  the  Pilgrims ,  who  landed  at  Plymouth  over  two  centuries  ago,  had 
landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  the  same  necessity  for  occupying  the 
whole  North  American  continent  would  then  have  existed  that  now  exists. 
We  should  have  pressed  eastward,  until  we  occupied  the  shores  of  the  At- 
lantic, and  southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

We  have  heard  it  said  that  Oregon  is  poor  and  sterile .  Then  why  does 
Oreat  Britain  want  it?  We  have  agricultural  lands  in  the  vast  valley  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  we  desire  to  have  some  manufacturers  on  the  Pacific, 
and  a  share  in  its  commerce  and  navigation .  If  the  fact  does  exist,  that  a  por- 
tion of  the  country  is  not  so  well  adapted  to  farming, it  is  only  an  argument! a 
favor  of  our  holding  on  to  it;  for  it  is  evident  that  this  GovemiQeDt;  at  a  future 


ilA^, 


13 


lat  it  is 
Oregon , 
ti  thou- 

ousand 
at  and 

'isions, 
m  the 

• 

to  par- 
^vould 
could 
[■ame, 

,  had 
?  the 
cists. 
sAt- 

Joes 

r  of 

ific, 

X)r- 

tia 

Lire 


day,  must  enter  largely  into  the  manufactory  of  her  products — for  even  now, 
after  supplying  herself  at  home  with  articles  to  satiate  her  people,  the  re- 
maining surplus  is  so  large,  in  connexion  with  that  of  other  countries,  that 
our  producers  are  poorly  rewarded  for  their  industry.  It,  then,  must  hap- 
pen that  on  the  Columbia  and  the  Pacific  there  will  be  established,  as  at 
the  east  and  north,  upon  the  Atlantic  and  the  lakes,  manufactories;  that  por- 
tion of  our  Government  adapted  to  agriculture  is  to  be  found  in  the  fertile 
valley  of  the  Mississippi;  no  part  of  the  habitable  globe  being  its  equal.  If 
Oregon  is  not  so  well  supplied  with  water  power,  as  some  have  urged,  ihe 
objection  is  lost  by  the  successful  operation  of  steam  upon  machinery.  But, 
sir,  much  of  Oregon  is  a  fine  grazing  country.  There  are,  already,  flocks 
of  catde  feeding  upon  her  luxuriant  and  fertile  pasture, continuing  through 
all  seasons  of  the  year.  Her  hills  beneath  the  snow-peaks  are  already 
bleached  with  the  fleece  of  the  sheep,  giving  reward  and  comfort  to  our 
settler  there.  Go  with  me,  in  imagination,  to  the  plains  of  Oregon.  Ijet 
us  take  an  impartial  look  at  this  lovely  country.  What  do  you  behold? 
Rich  and  fertile  lands,  awaiting  only  the  industry  of  toiling  thousands, 
soon  to  be  rewarded  with  an  increased  and  plentiful  harvest .  With  every 
wave  that  shall  leave  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  bearing  ofi"  her  surplus  pro- 
ducts, in  exchange  for  the  gold  of  India  and  the  manufactures  of  China. 

How  it  is  possible,  sir,  that  gentlemen  from  the  South  should  feel  so  in- 
different to  the  acquisition  of  Oregon,  I  cannot  see.  I  belong,  morally 
and  geograpliically,  to  the  country  south  of  Mason  and  ^Jixon's  line.  I 
am  identified  with  its  destiny,  and  will  labor  for  its  interest,  peace,  and 
prosperity ,  at  all  times,  and  under  all  circumstances.  But  I  look  upon  this 
as  an  American  question,  and  upon  the  country  of  Oregon  as  belonging  to 
every  portion  of  the  American  people,  and  worthy  of  the  united  efforts  of 
this  nation ,  from  Maine  to  Louisiana — from  Boston  to  the  fardiest  settle- 
ment in  ihe  West. 

Without  speaking  for  die  people  of  other  States,  I  must  be  permitted  to 
say,  for  the  people  of  Missouri,  that  there  is  but  one  voice  and  one  heart 
among  them  on  this  question.  If  the  whole  people  of  that  gallant  State 
could  be  collected  in  a  hollow  square,  and  the  line  of  49°  put  before  ihem, 
and  the  line  54°  40',  they,  with  entire  unanimity  of  thought  and  action, 
would  choose  the  latter.  If  you  put  to  them  die  question,  notice  or  no 
notice,  ihey  would  jill  go  for  the  notice,  and  immediate  notice,  and  risk 
ihe  icar. 

The  more  you  cry  out  ''war,  war,  we  are  in  danger  of  war,"  the  strong- 
er they  will  go  for  Oregon  and  for  the  notice.     It  is  not  in  character 


14 


with  the  western  people  to  be  thus  intimidated.  Their  love  of  enterprise 
and  national  rights,  make  them  willinj^  to  dare  and  suffer.  They  have 
tried  their  valor  on  the  plains  of  Now  Orleans,  a  bright  page  in  our  coun- 
try's history;  and  if  the  venerated  patriot  and  soldier  who  now  sleeps  in 
peace  and  honor  in  the  shades  of  the  Hf  rmitage,  he  who  refused  to  be  bu- 
ried in  the  tomb  of  a  king,  could  be  permitted  to  give  us  his  advice,  he 
would  say — go  for  Oregon,  and  for  the  whole  of  Oregon — go  for  the  notice , 
and  that  notice  now.  England's  threats  were  idle  tales  to  him.  Her  eager- 
ness to  grasp  the  property  of  others,  was  by  him  despised.  He  universally 
exhorted  his  countrymen  "to  ask  nothing  but  what  was  right,  and  submit 
to  nothing  that  was  wrong."  Let  us  follow  his  example.  I  must  be  ex- 
cused, Mr.  Speaker,  for  speaking  of  one  who  was  my  friend,  of  one  that  I 
delight  to  honor;  under  the  roof  of  him  who  has  shown  me  kindness,  from 
whom  I  have  embodied  my  political  creed,  one  who  took  the  Constitution 
of  his  country  and  used  it  as  a  political  telescope,  through  it  saw  his  duty, 
and  beheld  his  country's  interest;  he  straightway  perfonned  the  one  and 
advanced  the  other.  He  prized  the  Constitution  of  his  country,  the  most 
effectual  ornament  and  guide  to  our  republican  institutions. 

Should  our  countrymen  stray  into  the  roads  of  anarchy,  we  will  disinter 
the  bones  of  the  patriot  Jackson,  and  point  them  to  the  man  who  struggled 
for  liberty  and  independence,  and  who  guarded  with  vigilance  the  briglu  in- 
heritance of  his  much-loved  country.  He  loved  her  in  his  youth — age  im- 
paired it  not — and  dying,  his  exclamations  were  for  his  country. 

In  conclusion,  I  call  upon  you,  my  countrymen,  "to  come  to  the  res- 
cue" of  Young  Hickory  in  the  adjustment  of  the  Oregon  question,  with- 
out  the  loss  of  one  square  mile . 


•1. 


i 


>f  enterprise   , 
They  have   ?«; 
a  our  coun-    4 
>w  sleeps  in    | 
d  to  be  bu-    I 

advice,  he 

the  notice. 
Her  eager- 
universally 
md  submit 
lust  be  ex- 
one  that  I 
ness,  from 
onstitution 

his  duty, 

one  and 
,  the  most 

II  disinter 
struggled 
bright  in- 
— age  im- 


3  the  res- 
n,  with- 


